Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Bless me father for I have sinned. My last trip was.... because....
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ozarkpaddler |
Since then, it's been hit and miss with more "Miss" than "Hit." I have to kneel and cannot sit in a canoe seat more than 10 minutes. I really cannot be in a canoe much more than an hour and a half without pulling over and getting out to walk around a bit. I can barely handle the portages, and once I was the guy that would always RUN the last one on a trip as a tradition. I have had issue with Congestive heart failure and a bad heart valve, etc, etc. Plus tons of medical bills handicapped us financially, so it's been a little more difficult. Add to that, most of my old trip partners have health issues and no longer paddle and/or have passed away. Last "Real" trip was 2012 but last year did a base camp at Trails End with my nephews for a few days. |
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housty9 |
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BuckFlicks |
We started traveling for different reasons and my usual trip partner had a kid. Just hasn't been time/money for a week long (or preferably longer) trip. I've been trying to nudge myself back in that direction. Local river/lake trips, etc. We just remarked this weekend that it's been too long and we need to get back up there. Coming to this website just about every day doesn't make me feel any better. |
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Eyedocron |
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MrBreeze |
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LindenTree3 |
I've spent the last three summers in AK, logging over 30 canoe trips counting day trips and overhighters. I'll be back paddling in the BW next year, since I recently retired and moving back to Mn. |
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Birdknowsbest |
Caw |
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boonie |
quote Birdknowsbest: "Is there a trip meet up section on this board anywhere? That seems like a good idea to me. For ppl whose friends couldnt make it or want to go, but not alone. Seems like it could be a sub forum. Here you go |
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SaganagaJoe |
I haven't come back for a canoe trip because I spent my outdoors summer hiking time in the Cascade and Olympic mountains in Washington state! Lots of day hikes, 3 overnight trips, and one more 3-dayer starting Monday morning. No regrets and certainly not a sin. I wanted to get these in because I suspect I may be moving from Washington in the coming months, and feel like I need to make hay while the sun shines. Canoe country will, Lord willing, still be there for me when I'm ready to go again. |
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salukiguy |
For me its been since 2014. Loss of trip partners for various reasons. Also, the family put a higher priority on other vacations and this year when I thought I'd take the family the teenager didn't want to go (we went to Disney instead). |
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bfurlow |
Now to get started planning for next year! |
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Grandma L |
I am looking for replacements if anyone is interested? |
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andym |
2013: time up north turned into time spent setting up our cabin. A good investment. That fall got to spend a few days three in October and then started yet another series of lymphoma treatments that fall (started dealing with this in 2003). 2014: Had a bone marrow transplant and couldn't even go outside without a filter mask on for pretty much the entire tripping season. Didn't even get to visit our cabin. 2015: relapsed yet again and spent the summer undergoing treatment. Got there for a bit in September and did some day trips. 2016: got there for 4th of July and did some day trips. They gave me a boost for my transplant and that has done great things for me but by end of July was having complications. My new immune system was riled up and decided to attack bits of me. Nothing too serious but we had to cancel our fall trip. My doctors wanted me close by. 2017: still pretty much the same issues but lots of fatigue. That's finally getting better. Was up at the cabin for almost two weeks in July, did some day trips but most time was spent with Mom seeing the area. Also got up there for a week in Sept. Just the two of us. Did some more day trips. Also got all our camping gear arranged in our storage space. 2018: Ooo, it's gonna happen. I really miss a long BWCA trip. But I'm glad we have the cabin where we can feel at home and enjoy our friends and a bit of the northwoods. Even on a day trip, once we're away from motors, I can feel the wonder of canoeing through this amazing area. |
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4keys |
Then jobs, time, distance, and kids got in the way. 2010 took a trip through Mudro with the kids. Active and involved teenagers meant we missed BW again. 2015 A trip out of Clearwater, where we camped for a few days while BlueSkiesWI paddled his first solo loop and then met up with us for a few more days of fishing. 2016 another trip out of Clearwater but this time we took a brotherinlaw and his girlfriend. 2017. This year we tripped vicariously through our son BlueSkiesWI on his solo (he used a SPOT). We took too many other trips this year and couldn't take more time off. Utah, DC, Sylvania ( our BW compromise). Husband took a week to fish in Canada. And we're going to the Bahamas in a few weeks (sailing, snorkeling, fishing with in-laws). Darn jobs and money just keep getting in the way! |
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MrBreeze |
quote QueticoMike: "I feel sad for all of these people :(" Mike, don't feel sad. Anyone who has had the chance to experience the BWCA is blessed. Anyone who gets back there, even every other year or two is truly blessed. Feel sad only for those who have never been lucky enough to go even once. |
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nctry |
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bfurlow |
quote giddyup: "August 2015. Friends and family are not "like minded" when it comes to paddling and primitive camping. Their vacation time is limited and that is definitely not their idea of a vacation. " I have the same issue. I feel your pain. I have maybe 2 people that I go with and setting schedules gets to be tough. Was going to try a solo trip this past year, but other things came up. |
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jcavenagh |
No trip this year due to knee injury. Also, we went to Paris and my vacation do re mi was spent there. |
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yellowcanoe |
2015 cancer 2016 knee pain and replacement 2017 knee is still acting up dont get old. We do get trips in but they involve carts/big water where portaging is not a factor. We did Bowron Lakes in BC this summer for a week. |
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Northwoodsman |
Then life got in the way and I moved to Texas. Fast forward... 2015 - did the Lady Lake Chain with my brother (EP #37 to EP #38). 2016 - spent several days on Sawbill (day tripped over to Alton) with youngest son (20 at the time). 2016 - EP #38 Sawbill to Cherokee for 4 days 2017 - EP #47 to Gaskin for 5 days 2018 - Planning something for Sept. 20 - 30th, just not sure where but most likely out of EP #47 again. |
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riverrunner |
years. Been working a on a three year trip but I also have many other interests. |
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Moonpath |
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QueticoMike |
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giddyup |
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johndku |
2nd trip - 2016, son now ten, did a full week on Red Rock, Alpine, Jasper and Ogish. Loved every minute of it except for 30 minutes during the bad storm on 7/21/16. This year - after 15 years my "beloved" employer laid me off in April, along with another 100+ people, as they were owned by a private equity company and looking to sell, so they were cutting expenses to the bone. Now making 70% of what I was making, and didn't have the accumulated time off this year to take a trip....so I spend my time on this board and dreaming of 2018, living vicariously through other members trip reports. |
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Spartan2 |
But it isn't a sin in my eyes. It is just changes in our lives that make other changes necessary. It is adjustments to our activities due to adjustments in our situation. And it is disappointing on one level, but highly satisfying on another level. You can be bitter, or you can be thankful. I am choosing to reflect on the memories of 42 years of canoe-tripping in the BWCA and Quetico (with a little Algonquin and Temagami thrown in) and learn a new way to love the north country. Thanks to a grandchild who loves it as much as we do, it hasn't been that difficult. I will be posting a small trip report later today about our vacation in the canoe country with our granddaughter. If you read that, I think you will understand what I mean. Would I turn the clock back? Change things back to the way they used to be? Sure. But we cannot do that. And there are still some wonderful adventures to be had in the canoe country even if you don't forge into the wilderness with your pack on your back. And, actually, there is a big, wide world of other beautiful places to see, also. But the canoe country, for us at least, always feels like "home". |